Automatic acquisition of the Italian Citizenship

The Italian legal system recognises three different ways to acquire the Italian Citizenship, as follows:

1. Jus Sanguinis – (Latin: right of blood)

Children of Italian parents (mother or father) who are Italian citizens. Citizenship is passed on from parent to child without limitation of generation, on the condition that none of the ancestors has ever renounced their citizenship.

A minor child living with a parent at the moment in which that parent becomes an Italian citizen also acquires Italian citizenship. Current legislation recognizes the right to hold more than one citizenship simultaneously.

2. Jus Soli – (Latin: right of the soil)

Italian citizenship is granted to persons born on Italian soil:
– whose parents are unknown, Stateless or cannot pass on their citizenship to their child according to the laws of the State of which they are citizens;
– of unknown parentage found on Italian soil and whose natural citizenship is impossible to ascertain.

3. Citizenship through Judiciary Ruling On Natural Paternity / Maternity 

Minors recognised or declared to be of Italian bloodline can apply elect to become citizens within one year of that recognition.